Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39963125›Full record

ArticleClinical interventions in aging2025

A Multi-Stakeholder Qualitative Evaluation of ED PLUS: A Physiotherapy-Led Transition to Home Intervention for Older Adults Following Emergency Department Discharge.

Alison Holmes, Christine FitzGerald, Mairead Conneely, Margaret O'Connor, Katie Robinson, Aoife L Gallagher, Paul E Cotter, Rose Galvin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical interventions in aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alison HolmesSchool of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.ORCID 0009-0003-7678-661X
Christine FitzGeraldSchool of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Mairead ConneelySchool of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-9984-9204
Margaret O'ConnorDepartment of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Katie RobinsonSchool of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Aoife L GallagherSchool of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Paul E CotterDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, Ireland.
Rose GalvinSchool of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-8171-224X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Older adults frequently attend Emergency Departments (EDs) and experience high rates of adverse outcomes, including functional decline, re-presentation, and unplanned hospital admissions. Developing effective interventions to prevent these outcomes is a priority. Healthcare providers (HCPs) are well positioned to create integrated care pathways for older adults discharged from the ED. ED PLUS is a physiotherapy-led, multidisciplinary model that bridges the care transition between the ED and the community. It initiates a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in the ED and provides multidisciplinary follow-up to the patient for six weeks post-discharge. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the views and experiences of older adults and HCPs involved in the ED PLUS intervention to inform the design of a future definitive trial. Methods: A descriptive qualitative design was used. Older adults (n = 9) and HCPs (n = 10) who participated in the intervention arm of the ED PLUS trial were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews exploring their experience and perspective of the ED PLUS intervention. These interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Nine older adults and six HCPs consented to participate. The evaluation highlighted stakeholders' experiences and suggested modifications for optimising ED PLUS. Four themes emerged: ED PLUS bridged the transition between care settings for older adults.Stakeholder collaboration and investment were key enablers of implementation.Organisational, logistical, and personnel issues impeded the intervention's delivery.There is potential for service optimisation and expansion. Conclusion: This evaluation emphasises the important role of physiotherapists and other HCPs in transitional care delivery for older adults. The findings will inform future trials of the ED PLUS model, aiming to improve outcomes for this population.

Indexed as

Emergency Service, HospitalHome Care ServicesPatient DischargePhysical Therapy ModalitiesAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleGeriatric AssessmentHumansInterviews as TopicMaleQualitative Researchadmission avoidancecare transition(s)emergency careintegrated careolder adult

Identifiers

PMID39963125
PMCPMC11831920

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.